Railway crossing barrier



Dec. m, 1935.

S. A. ORR ET AL RAILWAY CROS S ING BARRIER Filed Oct. 5, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS $AMUEL A. ORR ogcPsR L- SUENDERHAUF ATTORNEY Dec. m, 1935, s. A. ORR ET AL RAILWAY CROSSING BARRIER Filed Oct. 5, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Dec. w, 1935. s. A. ORR ET AL RAILWAY CROSSING BARRIER Filed Oct. 5, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS SAMUEL H ORR A oscmz SUENDERHFNJF. BY

ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 10, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Samuel A. Orr, Drexel Hill, and Oscar L. Suenderhauf, Highland Park, Pa.

Application October 5, 1933, Serial No. 692,326

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to mechanically operated railway crossing gates or barriers. More particularly, it relates to railway crossing gates or barriers of the type wherein the barrier is adapted for movement vertically on upright posts, columns or the like, and which, in its raised position, leaves the crossing free and open, and in its lowered position bars passage across the rails.

The motive power is air pressure operating through the medium of a cylinder which is movable along guides, and to which pull ropes or cables are connected, the ropes or cables being also connected to the barrier. Upon introduction of air under pressure into the cylinder, the latter is moved, and the barrier is lowered from its raised or open position, in which it may be retained by means of weights, against the action of such Weights which are also connected to the barrier by means or ropes or cables. The barrier is again automatically raised from its lowered or barrier position upon release of'the air pressure.

In one form of the invention, the cylinder may assume the form of a carriage which is movable on guides or rails extending horizontally between and connecting the upright posts or columns. The piston, in such form of the invention, may be stationary and provided with a hollow piston rod through which the air under pressure may be introduced into the cylinder. Movement of the cylinder is transmitted to the barrier by means of a system of pull ropes or cables.

An exemplary embodiment of such form of the invention is shown on the accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic front view of the entire device according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view of the columns and connecting rails, a portion of the latter being broken away to show the carriage-cylinder, a portion of the cylinder being broken away to show the piston, and most of the barrier being removed for the sake of clearness;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken through one end of the cylinder and piston;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on line 15-45 of Fig. 5.

similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings, reference numeral 5 indicates a barrier which is preferably constructed in the form of a gate and which is movably guided vertically on upright columns 2. The latter may consist of angle iron, plates,

beams or the like suitably bolted or riveted together, as clearly shown on Fig. 5. The columns 2 are interconnected by means of spaced angle irons or rails 5 which extend horizontally therebetween. At their lowermost ends, the upright 5 columns 2 are preferably anchored in concrete blocks 4 sunk in the ground 3. Movable on the rails 5 is a carriage consisting of a cylinder 1 provided with wheels 6.

The particular construction of the carriage is clearly visible from Figs. 2 and 3. Cylinder l is clamped, adjacent its ends, between upper and lower clamping members 8 and 9-which are preferably arranged in pairs. Each clamping member 8 and 9 is drawn together by means of bolts Ill, so that the cylinder is securely retained between the clamping members which are provided with bushings I l, as shown.

The lower clamping members are centrally bored, as at l2 (Fig. 3) to journal axles I3 on the ends of which wheels 6 are rotatably mounted. Wheels 6 are hollow in character, the hollow space serving as a receptacle for lubricant which is suitably fed to bearings l5 of the wheels. The

hollow spaces are accessible through openings adapted to be closed by means of threaded plugs l6.

In the cylinder 1, and on piston rod i8 which extends through one end of the cylinder and which is mounted in one of the columns 2, is secured a piston, indicated at i9. Piston rod l8 and piston 19 are stationary and are secured against rotation with respect to column 2.

The piston I9 is mounted on the forward end of the piston rod, which is shouldered as at 22, the piston being retained in place by means of nut 23 mounted on the threaded end of piston [8 which extends beyond the piston.

Packing rings 24 are provided on each side of the piston and are retained in place by means of clamp rings 25 and nuts 26, whereby packing rings 21 are'pressed against the piston. The cylinder head is provided with a removable cover plate 28 which is attached, by means of bolts 29, to ring 30 threadedly mounted on the front end of the cylinder 1. Between ring 30 and cylinder 1, on the one hand, and between the ring and cover 28, on the other hand, are clamped rings 3! and 32.

Piston rod I8 is hollow, and the end thereof which is mounted in the column 2 is connected to compressed air conduit 33.

Three pull ropes or cables. 34, 35 and 36 are fastened to cylinder 1. Rope 34 passes over guide rollers 31 and 3B in one of the columns 2; rope 35 passes over guide rollers 3'! and over roller 38 in the other column 2; and rope 35 passes over a pair of guide rollers 39 in the latter column 2. Each of rollers 31, 31' and 39 are disposed above the barrier I, while rollers 38 are Any suitable or desired mode of connectionbetween the ropes and the barrier, such for example as is shown on Fig. 6, may be employed.

Barrier l, which is constructed in the form of a gate is made of iron or steel or the like, and comprises main upper and lower members 43 and 44 connected together by cross ties 45 and strut members 46 (see Fig. 1).

Suitably attached to each end of barrier I is angle ironmember 4t which supports bearing blocks '50. Axle 41, upon the ends of which wheels 48 are mounted, extends through and is journaled in blocks50. The wheels 48 run upon one of the fiat faces of angle members 49, which constitute partof the columns 2. As shown on Fig. 5 of the drawings, additional rollers or wheels 52 may be provided upon axles 5| extending from blocks 50 into the space provided between members 49, the wheels 52 running upon the free edges of these members. Any suitable or desired number of sets of such wheels may be provided along the vertical extent of each end of the barrier I.

Extending forwardly from each member 46 is angle iron 53, one side 54 of which is suitably bored to receive one of the trunnion-like ends of member 55. Steel spiral spring 56 is mounted on member 55, one end of the spring bearing against side 54 while the other end bears on plate 51. The latter is suitably secured to'bumper 58, into which the other trunnion-like end of member 66 extends. This construction constitutes a resilient shock-absorbing bumper.

With the barrier open and the crossing across the railroad tracks clear, the barrier is in its uppermost position. Fig. l of the drawings shows the barrier and pneumatic operating mechanism in the relationship corresponding to this position. Weights 42 are of suiiicient weight a; retain the-barrier insuch position. v

To close the path across the tracks, compressed air is introduced into cylinder 1. through the hollow piston rod 1 8 causing the cylinder to move in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2. This movement causes a pull or tractive force to be exerted on the ropes or cables 34, 35 and 35,

whereby barrier l is lowered against the action, of weights 42, so that the barrier assumes its closed position. a 7

Upon release of the air pressure on cylinder 1, the weights 42 are able to descend, thus raising the barrier back to its initial uppermost position. a

The device may be provided with suitable retaining and stabilizing means such as struts, guy wires or the like, as shown on Fig. 1,- and also with suitable alarm-giving devices such as lights,

bells, etc. a

' appended claims;

'What is claimed is: 3 V I 7 1. Railway crossing barrier construction'comprising a pair ofspaced upright columns, a gate-- like barrier vertically movable on said columns, a cross-piece extending horizontally between and. interconnecting said columns, means normally retainingv said barrier in raised position, and pneumatically-actuated means substantially encased by and horizontally movable in said crosspiece, and operatively connected to said barrier,

whereby horizontal movement of said last-named means is transmitted to said barrier against the action of said first-named means.

2. Railway crossing barrier construction .comprising a vertically movable barrier, spaced uprightguide columns therefor, and means for moving said barrier to barrier position comprising horizontally-movable pneumatically-operated actuating means, and means for transmitting horizontal movement of'said actuating means in one direction tosaid barrier to lower the latter.

3. Railway crossing barrier construction comprising a vertically movable barrier, spaced upright guide columns therefor, a substantially hollow connecting bar extending horizontally betweenand interconnecting said columns, a carriage-cylinder horizontally movable in said connecting bar, means normally retaining said barrier in raised position, and means for converting horizontal movement in one direction of said carriage-cylinder into downward movement of said barrier against the action of said first-named means.

4. Railway crossing barrier construction comprising a vertically movable barrier, spaced substantially hollow guide columns for said barrier, a substantially hollow connecting bar extending horizontally between and interconnecting said columns, gravity-actuated means for raising and retaining said barrier in raised position, a pneumatically-actuated carriage-cylinder in said connecting bar for lowering and retaining said barrier in lowered position, and means for actuating said carriage-cylinder.

5. In a railway crossing barrier construction, a vertically movable barrier, means normally retaining said barrier in raised position, means for lowering the barrier comprising a horizontal stationary hollow housing, guide rails in said housing, a cylinder movable in said housing on said guide rails, a stationary piston and piston rod extending into said cylinder, said piston rod being hollow and serving as a conduit for the introduction of compressed air into said cylinder, whereby the latter is actuated, and a system of cables and rollers for converting movement of said cylinder in one direction into downward movement of said barrier.

6. In a railway crossing barrier construction, a

- normally raised barrier, means for lowering the barrier comprising a pneumatically-operated cylincler, said cylinder being mounted upon wheels, whereby a combined carriage-cylinder is fonmed,

V horizontal guide rails for said wheels, means for introducing compressed air into said cylinder comprising a stationary hollow piston rod having one end thereof extending into said cylinder at one end thereof, and a piston mounted upon said end of said rod in sliding engagement with said cylinder, and means for converting movement of said cylinder in one direction into downward movement of said barrier.

SAMUEL A. ORR. OSCAR 1... SUENDERHAUF. 

